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Burundi – DRC: RED-Tabara presence blocks border reopening
The Burundian government has officially denied rumors regarding the imminent reopening of its land borders with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). During a briefing with the diplomatic corps, Foreign Minister Édouard Bizimana made any normalization contingent upon the effective securing of the border region.
RED-Tabara: The Core Security Concern
The primary sticking point remains the active presence of the RED-Tabara rebel movement (Resistance for the Rule of Law in Burundi). The Minister highlighted that fighters from this group are frequently reported in the Rusizi Plain, a strategic area connecting South Kivu (DRC) to northwestern Burundi.
For Gitega, this concentration of combatants in such close proximity to the border constitutes a "direct and permanent threat" to national security. The government accuses the group of using Congolese territory as a rear base to launch deadly incursions into Burundian soil.
Persistent Security Distrust
While some armed groups claim to be "repositioning" in the Uvira sector, Burundian authorities have dismissed these claims as tactical maneuvers rather than genuine steps toward peace. "No one can claim that security has been restored as long as these groups operate freely at our doorstep," stated Édouard Bizimana.
Consequently, the border will remain closed until further notice. Burundi is demanding concrete guarantees regarding the neutralization of RED-Tabara bases within the DRC before considering any resumption of transborder trade and movement.
